into the boys if we stay here…”
Ruisa snorted despite the situation. “Probably not Xavier. He has no trouble getting girls. Leilius, though…” She paused to take a deep breath “Okay, I think we should stick to the sidelines. We don’t want anyone recognizing us.”
“Or raping us.”
“Trying to, anyway. I don’t know where we could hide dead bodies.” Ruisa slid her finger over the paper, tracing out a few options. When she found one that might work, she folded the map in half to just show the section she needed to work with, then put it away. Next she took out a mixing vial and a couple of other bottles. “What do you think we should do? Poison the food, or…?”
Maggie looked inside the pouch and checked Ruisa’s stores. She tapped on a clear bottle with a green top. “Just put them to sleep. We need to get hold of some alcohol.”
“The guards will probably have alcohol.”
“I doubt the Graygual would let that sort of behavior fly. Not in this kind of place. There is a lot of money tied up here.”
Ruisa rolled her eyes. “You think the Captain lets that sort of behavior fly? But what will you find in most crow’s nests, hmm? A drop of whisky, that’s what.”
Maggie tilted her head in acknowledgement. “So now we just need better clothes.”
“Or nudity…” Ruisa opened her neckline down to her cleavage and then let the garment hang off her shoulder.
“You’re a virgin, I take it,” Maggie said dryly. “Men aren’t going to want to drink alcohol if you’re offering sex right from the get-go.”
“Well…that’s our whole plan, I thought…”
“We need to party first.” Maggie drummed on the barrel. Then she leaned forward and bumped her forehead against it. “Looks like a brothel might be right up our alley.”
Ruisa’s stomach flip-flopped. She sighed. “Men never have to resort to this kind of thing.”
“Or we could see if we can snatch something from a clothesline. Or steal from a shop. That was my original plan.”
“I wish that had been an inn.” Ruisa put away her map. “C’mon, let’s go see if we can trade for something.”
“Why not just buy it?”
“I don’t know that flashing money around while wearing rags is really the best approach in our situation.” Ruisa stood and moved out from behind the barrel.
“Now I know what Alena was talking about,” Maggie whispered.
“What’s that?”
“She’s the oldest of the Honor Guard, but feels like the youngest half the time. You guys are savvier than the normal army men. They just follow orders and try to stick pointy things in people. You guys…have more skills.”
“And we’re in danger constantly. That’s S’am for you.”
Maggie was silent for a moment as they walked around the building. Then she said, “I wonder if they’ll take a transfer…”
A cart trundled by, hauled by two horses with clearly defined ribs. Passersby hurried along, rarely looking anywhere but directly in front of them. A woman on the opposite side of the street had her child’s hand firmly in her own, hitching up her skirt for speed. Based on her appearance, she was somewhere within the middle class, with enough money to eat and dress herself, but without extravagance. Still she hustled along, clearly not wanting to be out on the street.
“It’s late afternoon,” Ruisa muttered, aware of the bright splotches of sunlight in between the elongated shadows. “I’d understand why people would want to get home after dark in a busy city, but while it’s still bright? Doesn’t make sense.”
Maggie shook her head slowly, a troubled expression on her face. “We had a curfew when the Hunter ruled our city. Maybe that.”
“Did that stop you from looking at each other, though?”
“Mostly, yes. But that was because we didn’t want to give anything away. These people might be strangers. It’s a huge place.”
Butterflies fluttered through Ruisa’s stomach. “Maybe. I guess we’ll find out soon enough.” Careful to hunch like Leilius would, Ruisa skulked down the sidewalk toward the entrance of the brothel.
“I don’t know that women walk like that,” Maggie whispered.
“I’m acting poor.”
“You look like you’re saddlesore. Girls like you wouldn’t have a horse, which means you’ve been riding something else all night…”
“For an unmarried woman, you sure have a lot of knowledge about this stuff.” Ruisa looked back with a quirked eyebrow.
Maggie shrugged. “A girl has needs.”
Heat rushed to Ruisa’s cheeks as a grin pulled her lips. She shrugged and looked up at the sign. Then the busy street in what looked like a well-kept part of the